Electric lamp base filling nozzle



y 1957 c. E. BECK 2,798,455

ELECTRIC LAMP BASE- F'ILLING NOZZLE Filed Sept. 22, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l inventor: Charles E BecK, by W67 His Att rney.

July 9, 1957 c. E: BECK ELECTRIC LAMP BASE FILLING NOZZLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1954 Inventor: Charles E. 5 0K,

His Att Pney United States. Patent?) ELECTRIC LAMP BASE FILLING NOZZLE Charles E. Beck, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 22, 1954, Serial No. 457,605

5 Claims. (Cl. 118-3) This invention relates generally to the manufacture of electric lamps and similar devices comprising a vitreous bulb having a base cemented thereto. The invention is more particularly concerned with an improved base filling nozzle for lining the interior of a base with a ring of cement according to a particular disposition which has been found desirable for lamps using a contact connection between one of the lead-in wires and the shell of the base. The present application is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No. 259,455, filed December 1, 1951, and now abondoned.

Household type incandescent lamps are generally provided with a base comprising a threaded metal shell or .cylinder and an end contact mounted on the outer end of the shell and insulated from it. The base is applied .to the neck of the bulb, that is to the constricted and generally cylindrical extension of the main spherical portion of the bulb and is usually cemented in place. The external contact surfaces for energizing the filament of the lamp are provided by the end contact or eyelet and by the shell of the base, these being connected to the lead-in wires which project into the bulb and support the filament.

My invention is more particularly concerned with the manufacture of electric lamps utilizing a contact connection between the side lead-in wire and the shell of the base. Such lamps preferably comprise a bulb having a full blown seal, that is a seal which conforms closely to the inside root diameter of the threads in the base shell. The side lead-in wire is drawn out along the outside of the seal shoulder or neck and is wedged between it and the shell of the base near the point of emergence. In the region where the lead-in wire is wedged or compressed, the base may be peened inwardly along a line transverse to the direction in which the lead-in wire lies, as described in my co-pending application Serial No. 263,43 8,.filed December 26, 1951, now Patent No. 2,733,- 419 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Previous to the assembly of the base to the bulb, the inside surface of the base is lined with an annular ring of cement, which ring is preferably located a substantial distance inwardly from the edge or skirt of the shell.

A basehaving such a disposition of cement is termed av deep-filled base and it permits maintaining the inside of the edge of the shell clean and free of cement. This is particularly desirable for a lamp utilizing a contact connection between the shell and the side lead-in wire, because the basing cement is an insulator and it would interfere with the electrical connection were it allowed to enter the contact region. The deep-filled bases also have the advantage that they may be bulked, that is, packed in haphazard arrangement without danger of smearing due to one base coming in contact with the cement lining of another.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved base filling nozzle suitable for producing deepfilled bases for electric lamps.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for disposing an annular ring of cement within a base and which is particularly adapted In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the

base filling nozzle comprises a tubular core having at its lower end one or more radial jets or orifices for ex trading cement paste.

mally blocks the jets or openings. During the filling operation, a base seated on a spinning spindle isp'ushed: up onto the nozzle and forces up the outer sleeve sothat' Further upward moathe inner sleeve enters the base. tion of the spindle causes the outer sleeve to butt against a shoulder on the inner sleeve so that the latter is forced up and the jets in the core are uncovered, allowing cement to be extruded out into the base. In unloading,- the inner sleeve first blocks oil the jets and then the outer sleeve pushes the base down and-ofi the end of the nozzle. cement from creeping up the base and smearing over its edge. e

For further objects and advantages and for better un: derstanding of the invention attention is now directed to the following description and accompanying drawings. The features of the invention believed to be novel will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side sectional view through the neck portion of an incandescent lamp utilizing a contact connec-; tion between its side lead-in wire and the shell of its base; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the base showing the required disposition of the ring of cement ior making the lamp assembly. of Fig. l; V Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a turret type base filling machine equipped with a base filling nozzle embodying the invention; i

' Fig. 4 shows the nozzle during the cement injection operation, the view being a vertical section at right angles to that of Fig. 3; e 1

Figs. 5 and 6 are ajplan view and an elevation, respectively, of a modified apparatus; r

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section ofi the nozzle and associated actuating mechanism of the modified apparatus; and 4 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the actuating cam means. r

The base filling nozzle in accordance with the inve11 tion may be used for lining with cement a base such as is comprised in the lamp of Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the base 1 is mounted on the constricted lower portion or neck 2 of an evacuated lamp bulb of which a fragment is shown generally at 3. The bulb may be of conventional construction and containing a filament mounted within it (not shown in the drawing) on the ends of the lead-in wires 4 and 5 which enter through a glass press 6. The base proper comprises a threaded metal shell 7, an insulating body or web 8 and an end contact 9 fastened to its outer surface. The top lead-in wire 4 is soldered to the end contact at 10, and .the connection between the side lead-in wire 5 and the shell 7 of the base occurs at 11 between the skirt of the shell and the seal shoulder of the bulb. The outer diameter of the neck and the inner diameter of the shell in this region are proportioned to provide a reasonably tight fit so that the side lead-in wire is mechanically locked in place. If desired, the shell may be peened inwardly in a line crossing over the side lead-in wire thereby to cause the wire to become embedded slightly in the metal of the base. The base is secured to the neck of the bulb by the cement at 12- which is heat Patented July 9, 7?

A pairoi concentric sleeves are: fitted over the core and the inner one of the sleeves nor- At the same time, the inner sleeve prevents greases hardened by the basing fires in the course of manufacture.

In order to secure the maximum benefits from the above-described lamp assembly, and also in order to keep the number of defective lamps to a minimum, it is nece'ssary to preventthe basing cement from entering the region 11 between the seal shoulder of the bulb and the skirt of the base shell where the contact connection to the side lead-in wire is made. The reason for this is that the basing cement is an insulator, and, were it allowed to enter the contact region, it would interfere with the electrical connection. It is accordingly necessary that the quantity and disposition of cement in the base be accurately controlled.

Apreferred distribution of cement for the base used to make the lamp of Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 2. It will be observed that the cement is disposed as an annular ring 13 which'is located inwardly from the edge of the shell,f leaving a clean band 14 wherein the contact connection may be made. A base having this disposition of cement is generally termed a deep-filled base and it may be lined with cement by the use of a base filling nozzle embodying my invention.

' Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown in vertical section a base filling nozzle embodying my invention along with cooperating portions of a turret type base filling machine. The machine may be similar to that described in U. S. Patent 1,306,643, Swan, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, and comprising in general a rotatable carrier 21 mounted on a supporting shaft 22 and which may be driven intermittently in step-by-step fashion through a Geneva drive mechanism (not shown) in the usual manner. The bases 1 are located in vertical cavities 23 located near the rim of the carrier and are prevented from falling through by the projecting bosses 24. The bases are successively indexed into place beneath the nozzle at the filling station, throughthe intermittent rotation of the carrier. If desired, suitable mechanisms may be provided for automatically inserting the bases into the cavities before the filling -station,'and' for ejecting them after they have been lined with cement.

Located in cooperative alignment below the base presented by the carrier at the filling station, is a spindle 25 supporting a cup or socket 26 adapted to receivethe lower end of the base 1. Spindle 25 "is reciprocated vertically, as indicated by the arrow 27, in order to lift the base into engagement with the nozzle. While in its raised position, the spindle is rotated, as indicated by the curved arrow 28 in Fig. 4, through one complete revolution or long enough to apply a' complete ring of cement to the inside surface of the base shell. Thereafter, the spindle drops and the base is lowered out of engagement with the nozzle, the carrier is indexed, and another base is presented at the station fora repetition of the operation. The reciprocation and spinning of the spindle, in synchronism with the intermittent rotation of thecarrier, may be done automatically by a mechanism such as is described in Patent 1,306,643,8wan.

The nozzle assembly comprises a central tube or hollow core 31 having a pair of radial jets 32 near its lower extremity, the jets communicating through the channel 33 with the threaded fitting 34 at the upper end of the core for receiving pressurized cement paste from a suitable reservoir. The core is held in fixed position immediately above the base holding cavity in the carrier at the filling station. A pair of concentric sleeves 36 and 37 fit closely around the core and are biased downwardly by means of compression springs 38 and 39, these springs operating independently one 'of the' other. A' pair of rollers 40 aflixed to the core, ride in channels 41, 42 in the sleeves to prevent them from rotating with respect to the core, and serve as stops to limit the downward displacement of the sleeves as illustrated in Fig. 3. The shallow vertical slots 43 and 44 in the sleeves form lubricating passages at the interfaces of the core and of the 4 l sleeves. A lubricant in which the cement paste is soluble, for instance alcohol, may be drip-fed into the passages in order to prevent sticking of the parts.

In Fig. 3, the nozzle assembly is illustrated in its nonoperative condition, both sleeves being pushed downward to their fullest extent by the springs. It will 'be observed that the inner sleeve 36 serves to cut off the flow of cement from the jets 32. Sleeve" 36 i's'provided with a shoulder 45 which cooperates with a corresponding shoulder 46 on the outer sleeve 3'7. By means of this arrangement, when a base is pressed upwardly so that its rim bears against the outer sleeve 37, that sleeve moves up a predetermined extent until the cooperating shoulders of the two sleeves butt together; Thereafter both sleeves move up as a unit and the inner sleeve 36 uncovers the jets 32 at the lower extremity of the core. This puts the nozzle assembly into its operative condition as illustrated in Fig. 4. The inner sleeve 36 has an outer diameter such that it fits fairly closely inside the shell of the base and it thereby prevents cement from creeping up toward the rim thereof. This assures a clear band near the outer edge of the shell of the base, as required for a side lead-in contact connection as described earlier, and provides a ring of cement 13 accurately positioned below it.

After the base has been lined with cement, by reason of the relatively close fit between the inner sleeve and the shell, there is a tendency for the base to stick onto the nozzle. However, this is prevented with the present invention by reason of the independent spring-biasing of the outer sleeve 37 which serves to push the base oil the inner sleeve 36 as soon as spindle 26 is reciprocated down.

In certain applications of the apparatus, for example where the base shell is made of thinner metal or of'a softer metal, the shells may be deformed due to the pressure exerted by the springs 38 and 39 during the filling operation. This may be avoided by effectively disabling or withholding the downwardly directed force exerted on the stripper sleeve 37 during the period of the filling operation, that is, while the sleeve 37 is being moved upwardly. One manner of accomplishing this result is illustrated in the modified mechanism shown in Figs. 5-8 wherein parts corresponding to those shown in Figs. 1-4 are provided with the same numerals with the addition of a prime.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5-8, the spring 39 of the Figs. 3 and 4 modification has been eliminated so that when the outer stripper sleeve 37' is engaged by the base 1 it is free to move upward until the shoulder 46 engages the shoulder 45' of the inner sleeve 36. At this time, further upward motion of the base moves both sleeves 36' and 37 upward while compressing the spring 38. When the base is lowered, the spring 38 pushes both sleeves 36' and 37' downward with their shoulders in contact. After the inner sleeve 36' has reached its normal position, the outer sleeve 37' is pushed further down to its normal position by finger members 47 to strip the base from the nozzle.

Prior to, and during, the actual base filling operation, the fingers 47 are held in an upper position out of engagement with the sleeve 37', as illustrated in Fig. 7.

.This function is effected by a peripheral cam 48 (Figs. 5

and 8). The fingers 47 are in the form of a yoke which is secured to a shaft 49 to which is also secured an arm 50 carrying a cam follower in the form of a roller 51 engaging the cam 43. The fingers 47 carry rollers 52 which engage the upper end of the outer sleeve 37. The downward movement of the fingers 47 to effect the stripping action is accomplished (when the roller 51 engages the'low portion 63 of the cam 48) by a spring 53 (Fig. 6) which exerts pressure upward on a rod 54 connected to an arm 55 fastened to the shaft 49. The rod 54 is supported from a bracket 56 which is attached to a stationary part of the apparatus and which also supports the shaft 49 for rotation therein. The bracket 56 supports a sleeve 57 having pins 58 at its lower end supported in notches 59 in the bracket 56. 'The rod 54 extends through the sleeve 57 and is resiliently coupled thereto by the spring 53 which surrounds the sleeve 57 and is compressed between a flange 60 thereon and a washer 61 which is backed by a nut 62 on the end of rod 54.

While a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will of course be understood that various modifications may be made without department from the invention. It will also be understood that the proportioning of parts which has been illustrated is that which has been found most convenient for the lining of a common screw type base, but that a different proportioning may be utilized where it is desired to line in similar fashion other types of bases such as the straight wall bayonet type. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover any such modifications coming within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1'. A base filling nozzle comprising a core having a channel through its center for receiving pressurized cement paste and a radial orifice near its lower end and communicating with said channel for extruding said paste, a pair of concentric inner and outer sleeves fitting slidably over said core, said inner sleeve fitting directly on said core and said outer sleeve fitting directly on said inner sleeve, the entire lower end of said core being of a diameter to fit Within said inner sleeve, stop means on said core engageable with and normally restraining both said sleeves in a lowermost position covering said orifice in the non-operative condition of said nozzle, and cooperating shoulder portions on said sleeves spaced apart a predetermined distance longitudinally of the nozzle but arranged to abut together to carry said inner sleeve clear of said orifice only after a predetermined upward movement of said outer sleeve.

2. In a machine for filling the base of a lamp bulb with adhesive prior to assembly by sealing the bulb into the base, the combination of a base filling nozzle comprising a core having a channel through its center for receiving pressurized cement paste and a radial orifice near its lower end and communicating with said channel for extruding said paste, a pair of concentric inner and outer sleeves fitting slidably over said core, said inner sleeve fitting directly on said core and said outer sleeve fitting directly on said inner sleeve, the entire lower end of said core being of a diameter to fit within said inner sleeve, stop means on said core engageable with and normally restraining both said sleeves in a lowermost position covering said orifice in the non-operative condition of said nozzle, said inner sleeve having an outer diameter proportioned to fit snugly inside a base, and cooperating shoulder portions on said sleeves spaced apart a predetermined distance longitudinally of the nozzle but arranged to abut together to carry said inner sleeve clear of said orifice only after a predetermined upward movement of said outer sleeve, means to support a base in alignment with said nozzle, said nozzle and said base support means being arranged for relative movement toward each other to bring the base into abutting engagement with the said outer sleeve and to carry said sleeve upward a distance sutficient to efiect engagement of said shoulders and then in turn carry the inner sleeve clear of said orifice whereby the orifire is uncovered by the inner sleeve only after it has entered a predetermined distance into the base.

3. A base filling nozzle comprising a core having a channel through its center for receiving pressurized cement paste and a radial orifice near its lower end and communicating with said channel for extruding said paste, a pair of concentric inner and outer sleeves fitting slidably over said core, said inner sleeve fitting directly on said core and said outer sleeve fitting directly on said inner sleeve, the entire lower end of said core being of a diameter to fit within said inner sleeve, spring means biasing said inner sleeve downwardly toward said orifice, stop means on said core engageable with and normally restraining both said sleeves in a lowermost position covering said orifice in the non-operative condition of said nozzle, and cooperating shoulder portions on said sleeves spaced apart a predetermined distance longitudinally of the nozzle but arranged to abut together to carry said inner sleeve clear of said orifice only after a predetermined upward movement of said outer sleeve.

4. A base filling nozzle comprising a core having a channel through its center for receiving pressurized cement paste and a radial orifice near its lower end and communicating with said channel for extruding said paste,

a pair of concentric inner and outer sleeves fitting slidably over said core, said inner sleeve fitting directly on said core and said outer sleeve fitting directly on said inner sleeve, the entire lower end of said core being of a diameter to fit within said inner sleeve, spring means independently biasing said sleeves toward said orifice, stop means on said core engageable with and normally restraining both'said sleeves in a lowermost position covering said orifice in the non-operative condition of said nozzle, and cooperating shoulder portions on said vsleeves spaced apart a predetermined distance longitudinally of the nozzle but arranged to abut together to carry said inner sleeve clear of said orifice only after a predetermined upward movement of said outer sleeve.

5. A base filling nozzle comprising a core having a channel through its center for receiving pressurized cement paste and a radial orifice near its lower end and communicating with said channel for extruding said paste, a pair of concentric inner and outer sleeves fitting slidably over said core, said inner sleeve fitting directly on said core and said outer sleeve fitting directly on said inner sleeve, the entire lower end of said core being of a diameter to fit within said inner sleeve, stop means on said core engageable with and normally restraining both said sleeves in a lowermost position covering said orifice in the non-operative condition of said nozzle, and cooperating shoulder portions on said sleeves spaced apart a predetermined distance longitudinally of the nozzle but ,arranged to abut together to carry said inner sleeve clear of said orifice only after a predetermined upward movement of said outer sleeve, spring means biasing said inner sleeve downwardly toward said orifice, means to independently bias said outer sleeve downward, and means to render the last-mentioned means inoperative during upward movement of said outer sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,237,038 Hendrickson Aug. 14, 1917 1,306,643 Swan June 10, 1919 2,322,211 Albright June 22, 1943 2,412,954 Zdancewicz Dec. 24, 1946 

